ORS

But, he misread a fly ball off his bat!! Let's put him in the middle of the IF and put our competent middle IF in the OF!

So, your preference, given a guy who plays neither position regularly who you have concerns about defensively, is to put him at the most difficult defensive position? Seriously?

Drop the anectodes. I've acknowledged there will be some hiccups, and that I prefer to endure them while keeping his bat in the lineup. To answer your inane questions, that I've already answered, yes, I want that guy over watching Iglesias/Byrd/McDonald hit. You've brought a lot of attention to the potetial for WMB to have some follies in the OF, but you've completely ignored the negatives to your suggestion, namely how completely awful that trio will be with a bat in their hands. In a perfect world, no, I'd prefer to not have WMB in LF. Given the other options, I'll take his bat in the lineup and the circus moments in LF that will certainly come. And it's mainly because of two things. One, I appreciate the value of the defensive spectrum as a guide in determining the importance of defense at positions around the diamond, and LF is the least important. Two, while I acknowledge the potential for some misplays, I think you are massively overstating how bad he could be out there given his athletic ability.

It's inconsistent because neither of them have played a game in the OF recently. Your objection is based on where they have played games. Neither have done it at the position in question. Ultimately, they are still professional baseball players, who have probably played every position on the diamond (with the exception of maybe catcher) at some point in their lifetime playing baseball. They both have the athleticism to be credible in the OF. However, since their recent experience there in actual games is light, they'll both have a learning curve out there. When Youkilis gets back, your suggestion is to have WMB playing in meaningless minor league games, when the alternative is that you have him up with the big club contributing in the lineup in lieu of either Marlon Byrd or Darnell McDonald. While I agree that WMB's ultimate position should be 3B, I don't think a half a season in the OF will ruin that. I also don't think his defense in LF will be significantly worse than Aviles, but his contribution at the plate will be miles better than Byrd/McDonald, or Iglesias if they move Aviles to LF. These are the options under consideration right now..... Aviles at SS Youk at 3B WMP in LF vs. Aviles at SS Youk at 3B Byrd/McDonald in LF or Iglesias at SS Youk at 3B Aviles in LF I take the first option, hands down.

This happens all the time. Pujols played 3B/OF when McGuire was the incumbent in StL. Cabrera did it in FL. It's rare that a prospect can come on the scene and perform right off the bat. Over the next few games, if Middlebrooks shows he can play at this level (not a 1.300 OPS level, but the major league level) you count your blessings and make it work. You don't send him back to RI on the Pawtuckett shuttle just because of some lineup incompatibility. You get creative and play your best players. It's mind boggling that people are resistant to this.

I don't think they should try and trade Youkilis, either, FWIW. If they do, who is the backup 1B? Punto? Disgusting.

Also, Miguel Cabrera did this in 2003 when the Marlins had Mike Lowell at 3B. He played LF, RF, and occaissional 3B for them after being called up. Cabrera was fine at 3B after that....until he ballooned and had to go to 1B. Gordon got moved to make room for Moustakas, another good bat and better fielder. WMB doesn't have anyone in the system threatening to push him into the OF permanently. It's a waste of an opportunity to have him hitting bombs in AAA just so he can stay at 3B.

But you want to put Aviles in LF and give SS to Iglesias, who makes McDonald and Byrd look like Manny Ramirez at the plate. And is there any confidence that Aviles will be better than WMB in LF? I don't know that there is. So what's really under consideration is the defense you get from Iglesias at SS vs having WMB's bat in the lineup. Iglesias would really have to pick it to make up that gap.

Middlebrooks in LF makes a lot of sense. He's young and athletic, and none of the current LF corps has been so good out there defensively to make the learning curve all that painful. Plus, he can get accustomed to MLB pitching. Do it.

Whouk?

Not where it counts, in the field. McDonald, without equivocation, is an awful baseball player because he can't hit, but he's perfectly mobile.

Guerrero can't play the field, and while he's a better bat than MacDonald, he's not good enough to sit Ortiz.

You are making mountain out of a molehill. It doesn't get any simpler than that.

Not saying it isn't possible, but you say the most naive and ridiculous....which means worthy of ridicule, ie to make fun of.....things on the subject of the Yankees. Just leave it at, "He's going to try and come back."

Business owners get creative to achieve a status for marketing goals? Shocking! Film at 11:00.

Off to the bar to catch the game.

Three months ago, this was you (paraphrased)..... When was the last time Bard was a good starter? Plus, your recap his performance/injury history is way off. I'd suggest stepping down from your high horse.

I agree that this is what they should do with Buchholz. Its amazing how these SEVEN starting pitcher scenarios tend to work themselves out. Right now, there are only five that should be in the big club's rotation, and I'm sure Buchholz and Matsuzaka will find slots opening for them when they are ready, either through injury or Cook not being able to pitch in the AL East.

No, moving him to BP is shortsighted because it considers only the short-term benefit/value of the move. Given the current set of circumstances, Bard in the BP fits the greatest need of the team......over the next two months (short-term). I'm not saying there aren't two sides to the argument, I'm saying there is a short view and a long view to the situation. The long view accounts for overall better relative contribution of starting pitchers. The short view is focused only on right now. I couldn't care less about what the media is saying. Why do you feel so compelled to point out when they are in your camp? Their opinion is meaningless to me. And, FWIW, I've seen it discussed elsewhere that Cafardo is kind of flip-flopping right now on the Bard and Iglesias positions he took in ST, since Bard is pitching well as a starter and Aviles has a hot bat at SS, and he's calling those clammoring for Bard in the BP impulsive. Again, I didn't read it directly, because I never read his worthless drivel, but it sounds like there's dissention in the ranks amongst your support group.